ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

Michael Kenrick

I'm sorry but that's a silly response. If you're watching on TV, you have to realise that the visiting crowd are just below and to the left of the TV gantry. While the Bullens Road stand is of itself hardly a centre of vocal support for Everton. So when the visiting fans do chant, you will tend to hear them over the Everton crowd on TV.

Second factor is that the crowd always react to what they are seeing. They respond if and only if there is something worth responding to, For much of the match, there was little other than the same hard work ethic that Moyes so espouses. Only when we looked like hurting them, in that brief 5-minute spell, did the crowd get roused. And that's just the way it is.

The players are the ones who win games. This 12th man stuff is all very romantic but at the end of the day, it's basically crap. The manager needs to get his tactics right and the players need to perform. Without pne or the other or both, the crowd will be quiet ? and rightly so. These are fellow Evertonians you are talking about, FFS!

Yusuf Bobat
1 Posted 23/01/2008 at 22:54:34

We have not won a cup game since the turn of the year; I'm worried our UEFA Cup campain could come to a end next month, is Moyes's poor record in cup competions coming back to haunt us in 2008?

Tony Williams
2 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:02:14

Another fooking nugget who wasn’t at the game having a go at the crowd FFS.

There is a think called dierectional microphones and unfortunately they weren’t pointed at the Gwladys Street or you would have heard a noise.

Once again I will repeat my story, we could hardly hear the Chavs in the Lower Gwladys and actually applauded them when they made some noise in the second half.

David Pilling
3 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:04:07

If you?ve ever been in the Lower Gladwys, youd know the singing is almost non-stop and as Michael says, its all to do with microphones and locations. Poor record in cup comps?? Excuse me Yusuf, but when was last time we were in Carling Cup semi?? Bloody hell guys, get real!!! Yes, outplayed, outclassed and out-lucked but take the doom-tinted glasses off please. Progress is there, and if you read Martin Samuel's article, many people think the same. Why not sack Moyes and bring back Mike Walker? Would you like that???

Scott Chester
4 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:04:49

We got outclassed simple as that!

Yakubu would have made huge difference because he can hold the ball up we should have started with Anichebe having Johnson upfront on his own when he?s the weakest player in the Premier league and can?t win anything in the air was pointless if your going to play one upfront make sure the striker is big and strong!

Mak Manns
5 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:08:10

Can I just put this to bed now please - CHELSEA FANS DID NOT OUTSING US! They sold around 60% of their allocation and were far quieter than SUnderland or Man City. TV Fans please do not comment on such matters; on tv yesterday it was dificult to really appreciate the Spurs atmosphere too although I’m sure it was bouncing. Everton fans were ready and willing to give their all - as Mr Kendrick says the team for all the pre-match bluster badly let us down (defence excluded). Far too much respect paid tonight, Davey to win a game you need to go out and grab the fucker not wait for it to come to you..

Tony Williams
6 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:11:18

The formation would have worked if we would have passed more to his feet, however their midfield and defence were simply too strong for us, hence why they will still be challenging for the league come May and we will be among the also rans.

They have a fantastic defensive line up which will get better when Terry gets back.

lets not kid ourselves we were simply outplayed by a superior side

John Mangan
7 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:10:44

Surely the name Jimmy Crack is a giveaway. This is obviously a wind up, and here wasme thinking one Dic was better than two!
Just in case Jimmy is genuine, which seems unlikely, he obviuosly couldn?t hear the atmosphere being half way across the world, and inall honestly, who gives a shit about these people anyway.
We?re fourth in the prem and still in the uefa cup, let?s keep on going, COYB

Anthony Keating
8 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:02:24

I come on TW everyday an read every opinion an take it on board. I read the likes of your Tony Marsh’s and do agree with points, disagree with others. I’ve read all the pro Moyes points an took that on board. And I am pro Moyes. But I’ve never posted but tonight I feel like it. As much as we have progressed that tonight was awful . I was brought up on the 80’s success, and also suffered the Walter Smith years, and the rest, you know what am on about. But we bottled it big style and it has done my head in. After what was said on their own website, and in the papers and thats all we can produce. It was poor and has showed us up big style. For me you can stick you 4th place, that was on a platter for the Toffeees to grace Wembley again and they never stood up to be counted. And if you know your football and you know Everton Football Club you know who they are who let us down.

Tony Williams
9 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:19:50

I am sorry Anthony but you will have to explain to me how we "bottled it big style", I suppose just because it was a semi final we should be tearing the like of Chavski apart should we?

Get real mate, they came here knowing that they simply did not have to lose, and that for a team that has been champions twice in the last three years is a massive psycological boost.

We huffed and we puffed but unfortunately we came up against the piggy who has a degree in masory and own their own construction site.

We simply were not good enough with out best XI out there tonight. No shame in that as I would think that Chelsea may sneak the league from ManUre again this season.

Barry Kingham
10 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:14:22

Was at the game and just saw the highlights. Yes it did seem like the Chelsea fans were loud on TV but personally I didn’t hear them all game to be honest. The atmosphere was great at the beginning, lots of singing and noise but it all went flat as Chelsea’s excellent defensive performance was excellent and put a dampener on the occasion. Its a bit unfair to say the fans let Everton down - EFC fans always give 100%. The standing ovation at the end confirmed that.

Shame we didn’t make it but we beaten by a better team. But... reality check - the gap between 3rd and 4th is huge.

Alan Creevy
11 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:18:29

Right? Would that have won us the game?

Your comments are not really even worth replying to, but as someone who WAS there, singing, shouting and screaming as best they could, even I have to admit we were beaten by the better side tonight; Chelsea snuffed us out, simple as.

But don’t let anyone say we are not as close to them and the other top 2 as we’ve been for years. We’re a work in progress and the reaction after the game from the fantastic support acknowledged that.

There is a lot to proud of tonight - on and off the field - so please have a think about it before you coldly comment about something you’re 4000 miles away from!

Louis Huglin
12 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:18:33

I’ve just got back. You couldn’t get a ticket. Fair enough. But you cannot judge from your armchair. The microphones are in specific places, always one by the away fans so they sound louder, and the reflection they give of the atmosphere is unfair. Goodison was buzzing, the atmosphere was excellent, nervous yes but superb in the first half, and urgency turned to disappointment in the second. My throat is destroyed, and everyone around me was singing throughout.

Don’t listen to that twat Chelsea idiot on 606, he was in dreamland. They couldn’t even half fill their ticket allocation of a mere 5,000 for a cup semi final - shows what a pointless club they are. Come on Spurs in the Final. We’ll make do with the Uefa Cup I suppose.

We’re going to City twice...

Lue Glover
13 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:21:23

I?m going to swear now. How fucking dare you criticise the crowd. The place was rocking from start to finish. For a few minutes after Chelsea scored, yes, we were stunned but have YOU ever tried shouting and singing for 90 minutes +.
The crowd, all parts of the ground were fantastic tonight. I can barely speak because I?m hoarse and yes most of us stayed to the end to cheer the lads off.
Don?t make me swear again! No, on second thoughts, how fucking dare you criticise us. Every last person in there did their bit. It just wasnt to be, I?m proud of my team and I?m proud of the people stood besides me. But I?m well pissed off with people who just can?t wait to have a go about something.
Apologies to those who don?t like the idea of a middle aged biddy using the f-word but some of you lot just drive me to it. Get behind your team, don?t slag it off.
Come on you Blues!

Kieran KInsella
14 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:28:13

I wasn't at the game either but the I was reading the text commentary on the BBC and they lept bitching about the Everton fans being silent. I can?t imagine that was really the case but for those not there you have to rely on the media to report these things and it seems that they mislead a few.

Nick Toye
15 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:32:18

I heard the crowd on telly just before Fergie scored against Man U. That was an awesome crowd. Didn’t hear anything like that against Chelsea.

Maybe the fans needed inspiring, or the players did - either way neither really inspired and it was fairly flat.

Anthony Keating
16 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:32:25

Am sorry Tony mate but I see that as a defeatist attitude. We are EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB. I can’t except huffing and puffing. This was a cup semi and as I said, was there on a platter.

Tony Williams
17 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:38:42

Stop typing rubbish Anthony, it is not a defeatist attitude at all but a realistic one. Why should I bitch and moan at our team because we couldn?t beat one of the best team in Europe?br />
Just because we want to win every game and are passionate about it there is no need for petty moaning when we don?t. On a platter my arse!!!

I wanted us to win and win big but I knew it was a huge ask and of course it came to pass that we just couldn?t break them down. We tried and almost did but they were simply too good fo us.

Defeatist or Realist, you decide but I have a feeling I know what you will say...

Paul Murphy
18 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:41:22

At the end of the day we were beaten by the better side,we missed Yakubu badly, but our failiure wasin the tactics we played, with too many highballs hit upfront. Its typical that we should bicker on about the supporters, who were upfor the match, having been there I know they were, and I believe my own ears over anyone who heard the atmosphere over the fucking television. We are fourth, and we canstay fourth if we play to our stengths, the league cup is gone, lets focus on what we have left to play for

Lue Glover
19 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:42:38

If you werent there you can’t judge whether the crowd were loud or not because of where the microphones were placed. I’ve been following Everton FC for almost 50 years, yes 50 years and tonight was one of the loudest and best crowds ever. Maybe not as good as Bayern but simply the best from recent times so I’ll say this once again, if you werent there, don’t be deceived by what you heard on the telly.

Dear God I must be the only person who feels proud of my team after reading some of the crap on these pages.

Nick Toye
20 Posted 24/01/2008 at 00:58:07

From our perception in the armchair - it sounded loud at kick off, and then it seemed to peeter away.

I had a season ticket for nearly ten years, and I know our fans can go quiet if the game is drifting away.

I just don’t think the belief was there in the crowd or on the pitch. Maybe the Lescott og killed it off, I don’t know. But we simply showed Chelsea too much respect and never really got at them with any bite.

It was all very flat and I’m gutted that we have gone out on a whimper.

I suppose many of the doubters are no doubt going to instigate a Moyes out campaign, maybe we should see this as progress, because no matter what the score was, or what happened on the pitch. This was progress, and we are progressing.

Gareth Cooper
21 Posted 24/01/2008 at 01:03:06

Absolutely rubbish post. How the fuck you can tell what the crowd was like from the other side of the world I don?t know!! The ground we rocking. One of the best and loudest atmospheres I?ve been in. The Gwladys St was jumping. Chelsea were a disgrace in being unable to even fill there away ticket allocation. I was proud of all the blues in the stands to tonight. Just think before you write shit like this! If I wasn?t passionate enough to deserve a ticket I wouldn?t have driven half way across the country to be there tonight or spent my hard earned cash doing it. What you have written is unbeleivably distespectful to your fellow blues! Shame on you!

Nick Toye
22 Posted 24/01/2008 at 01:15:30

Quite a few people have mentioned it. If its not true then fair enough, we were not there.

I actually live on the Wirral but couldn’t afford it tonight, but when I do go, I do notice times when it goes quiet. It sounded on tv that we were quiet.

I don’t buy the microphones were infront of Chelsea fans, because we had 3 quarters of the ground, and I have heard a louder crowd on telly before.

But if you guys say the atmosphere was great than fine. But after the build up that Sky had given it following the White Hart Lane game, it didn’t seem to follow suit.

Lue Glover
23 Posted 24/01/2008 at 01:17:32

Well said Gareth, I?ve just been trawling around other sites and have seen post after post about how awful the crowd were and how we?ve let the team down. I?m absoloutly stunned by those comments. For whatever reason, conspiracy big four theories or whatever, the microphones created a false sense of where the noise was coming from. WE were fantastic tonight, everyone who was at the game singing their hearts out should give themselves a pat on the back.

Peter Bourke
24 Posted 24/01/2008 at 03:22:19

Don?t worry about terds like Jimmy (wise) Crack. My son and I watched from our lounge chair here in Australia and we could only dream of being there on the night. When the crowd was singing at the sart of the match I got goosebumps and it made me proud to be an EVERTONIAN.

Lee Spargo
25 Posted 24/01/2008 at 08:53:31

I must have been at a different match last night. I was sat in the street end, and let me tell you - the singing was non-stop and the atmosphere was electric.

Jay Campbell
26 Posted 24/01/2008 at 09:15:30

Tony Williams I think we did bottle it end ov.

Certain players are not good enough and certain players never rose to the occasion(Arteta, Cahill, Osman) etc which was dissapointing.

The team seems to lack belief as well against top sides for some reason. Aright we can give them a game but we never look capable of hurting these teams.

I’m totally gutted.

Paul Gladwell
27 Posted 24/01/2008 at 11:39:35

The fans were superb last night, the whole ground were a credit to themselves and I cannot believe some of the shit coming out slagging the way we played etc.
I had an arguement passing some fella outside who said Moyes was a prick and blew it by not playing 4-4-2.
I have been a big critic of Moyes in the past but sometimes you have to hold your hand up and say we are just not good enough YET.
Chelsea did a superb job in what they are good at and sadly that last minute cock up in the first leg enabled them to play such a way.
But as for 4-4-2 against them ,no fecking chance,we dont have good enough players to play this formation against the top sides in my opinion.
We are learning and if we can keep all our players and add a few more then we will be a serious threat next season

Tom Hughes
28 Posted 24/01/2008 at 12:07:29

An independent match assessment, please note the references to atmosphere:

"Everton’s cup dream rolls as Goodison rocks
CARLING CUP SEMI-FINAL, 2ND LEG
EVERTON 0 CHELSEA 1 CHELSEA WIN 3-1 ON AGG

Alan Nixon 24/01/2008

It was one small step for Avram Grant but a giant stride for the new Chelsea that owner Roman Abramovich is so determined to build after sacking Jose Mourinho.

Reaching the final of the Carling Cup at Wembley may not exactly match the Premier League and FA Cup-winning feats of Mourinho. But it was the Carling Cup where the great man started his trophy collection.

Grant’s poker-faced desire spurred them to within 90 minutes of more honours and the Special One will surely be watching with envy from his Portuguese retreat.

That it was completed in the blistering atmosphere of a white-hot Goodison says even more about what is to come from this rebuilt Chelsea side. This famous old ground has not seen or heard anything like it for 23 years - and, sad to say, probably won’t witness its like again.

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It was time travel football, transporting those lucky enough to have seen the last semi-final second leg here back to 1985 and THAT night against Bayern Munich.

All that was missing was Andy Gray running through brick walls as Howard Kendall’s hurricanes sent the Germans home with their beach towels around slumped shoulders and under ruffled perms.

There has been a long wait between that European Cup Winners’ Cup semi, possibly the most historic game played here, and the next showdown.

For sheer emotion and frenzy Everton’s rough and ready old home has few equals. It scares and excites at the same time, ordinary players go that extra yard, classy thoroughbreds get twitchy.

With the move to Kirkby and a new future ahead. Goodison may have staged its last passion play. But for one night only it was the Theatre of Screams again. Even if Everton failed to make it to Wembley. "